The transfer window for all of Europe’s big five leagues is closed, but that doesn’t stop Transfer Talk from rummaging around about who will be moving where come January.
TOP STORY: Genoa set Chelsea £35m price for Piatek
With Chelsea reported to be mulling over a January bid, Genoa have set their asking price for 23-year-old striker Krzysztof Piatek at £35m, or so claims The Sun.
We’re not even in November yet and Piatek has already scored 17 goals this season, including four for Poland, and has been tipped as “the new Robert Lewandowski.”
Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud have struggled for Chelsea, which is why the club is on the lookout for a new striker, but who is to say the youngster will fare any better. £35m also seems a bit low in the current climate — that’s as much as Tiemoue Bakayoko cost them and we all know how that one has turned out.
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19.27 BST: In the last few days there have been multiple reports that Anthony Martial was still open to returning to Old Trafford.
According to Sky Sports News via Talk Sport the 22-year-old has rejected the latest in a line of contract offers to stay at the club, although takes are still on going.
If Martial does seek a new challenge, the same report identifies Juventus and Inter Milan as potential landing spots. Martial has scored three goals in his last two Premier League games for United but his contract is set to expire at the end of this season.
18.16 BST: Chelsea now the favourites for PSG star Hirving Lozano?
Italian outlet Calciomercato claims that Chelsea are the latest club to show interest in the budding Mexico star, who scored on Wednesday in the Champions League vs. Tottenham.
The outlet reports that Chelsea’s scouts have their eyes on the man they call “Chucky” and that Chelsea could swoop in for a £30 million move for the Mexican winger in January.
The 23-year-old is off to a scintillating start to the season with PSV with 11 goals in 15 games and is also on the radar of Barcelona, Man United and others.
17.20 BST: Fulham have locked up goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli to a new contract that will keep him at the club through 2021.
✍️ @marcusbettss has committed his future to the Club by signing a contract extension.
📝: https://t.co/dTYVJZ5ouH #COYW pic.twitter.com/FPk0hYSuli
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) October 25, 2018
Bettinelli has been at Fulham since joining the youth ranks in 2010 and has been a bright spot in a Fulham team that has struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League.
Bettinelli has re-emerged as Fulham’s No. 1 this season, despite the club signing two established goalkeepers with European experience this summer.
Bettinelli’s play has not gone unnoticed either, despite Fulham’s poor start, as the 26-year-old was called up for England’s September matches with Spain and Switzerland.
16.09 BST: Stand by for some SHOCK news about Gary Cahill‘s future at Chelsea: turns out he DOESN’T want to leave.
Despite only playing three times this season as Antonio Rudiger and David Luiz have had the run of the first XI, Cahill reckons Chelsea might actually win the Premier League title so is willing to stick around and find out. So say the Sun anyway.
14.55 BST: The younger brother of Naby Keita, Petit Keita, a 17-year-old striker, has been training at Liverpool’s academy after leaving his club in Germany, sources have told ESPN FC.
14.31 BST: Juventus president Andrea Agnelli has said that Fabio Parataci will take over departing general manager Beppe Marotta’s sporting responsibilities, ending speculation he could move to Manchester United.
14.01 BST: LA Galaxy striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic isn’t moving to West Ham United. No matter how much James Corden wants him to…
My buddy @JKCorden what do you want? West Ham or more viewers for the @latelateshow ? pic.twitter.com/s5YPUSbtVY
— Zlatan Ibrahimović (@Ibra_official) October 25, 2018
13.32 BST: Newcastle United and England U21 goalkeeper Freddie Woodman is the subject of interest from both Arsenal and Fulham, say the Newcastle Chronicle. The 21-year-old is playing the reserves after not being allowed to leave on loan this summer. His deal ends in 2020, with no sign of a new contract looming either.
12.43 BST: Money isn’t usually an issue for Manchester United when it comes to transfers but they might baulk at the fee being quoted for Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar.
Skriniar told ESPN that he’s flattered by interest, while sources said that he and Alessio Romagnoli of AC Milan are United’s top targets in January. But Tuttosport claim Skriniar alone would cost upwards of £70m. And that’s certainly a lot for a defender.
12.03 BST: Time to rate those rumours, via Football Whispers. Today it looks like Maurizio Sarri has given Chelsea the green light to pursue Mexico international Hirving Lozano.
11.37 BST: Besiktas president Fikret Orman has said he would not stand in Guti’s way if Real Madrid wanted him to replace Julen Lopetegui.
10.52 BST: Fiorentina striker Federico Chiesa has reportedly attracted interest from Chelsea, Barcelona, Juventus, Napoli, Inter and Bayern Munich, according to the paper edition of Corriere dello Sport. If the 21-year-old turns out to be as good as his dad, Enrico, he’ll be worth a pretty penny in a few years.
09.50 BST: Manchester United are keen to improve their squad in the transfer window, we know this. But you might be shocked by the player who is best priced by one bookie to return to Old Trafford.
It’s… erm… Angel Di Maria. That worked out well the first time round.
09.11 BST: Barcelona wanted €40m for Denis Suarez during the summer after approaches from Inter and Napoli, say Mundo Deportivo. But given that he is yet to play a single minute this season, perhaps a slightly smaller offer might get accepted in January?
08.51 BST: Antonio Conte‘s brother and agent, Daniele Conte, has denied the Italian coach has been contacted by Real Madrid with a view of replacing under-fire Julen Lopetegui.
Lopetegui heads into Sunday’s Clasico at Barcelona with his side having taken just one point from a possible 12 in their last four league games, while the Spanish press consider the former Chelsea coach as the main candidate to replace him.
“Antonio is on holiday, he has not received a call from Real Madrid,” Daniele Conte told Cadena Ser radio. “Real Madrid is a great team, although there hasn’t been any contact.”
08.00 BST: Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has been linked with a move, but it may be his off-pitch value that keeps him at Old Trafford.
The Daily Mail reports that United club chiefs are unwilling to let the France international leave unless they can bring in another superstar player who can match his commercial value.
Pogba has been linked with interest from Barcelona and former club Juventus, although representatives of both clubs have publicly played down those reports.
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Man City track Alex Sandro
Manchester City are weighing up a move for Juventus left-back Alex Sandro after sending scouts along to watch him in action against crosstown rivals Manchester United in midweek.
The Brazil international kept Marcus Rashford quiet as the Bianconeri ground out a dominant 1-0 win at Old Trafford in the Champions League.
According to the Sun, Juve are keen to sign Marcelo from Real Madrid in January, which would open the door for City to lodge their offer for Alex Sandro, who is valued somewhere around the £50m mark.
Zlatan odds on to rejoin Man United
The odds of Zlatan Ibrahimovic signing for Manchester United in January have been shortened once again amid reports that the Swede could rejoin his former side on loan.
The 37-year-old wants to return to Europe to help retain his match fitness during the MLS offseason, and according to the Sun, Old Trafford is his preferred destination.
It is posited that Jose Mourinho would welcome the arrival of Ibrahimovic to back up and provide competition for shot-shy striker Romelu Lukaku, who hasn’t scored in his last eight outings for United.
City turn to Japan
Japanese midfielder Ritsu Doan has caught the eye of Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola ready to spend £5m on the Groningen star in January, say the Mirror.
Doan, 20, moved to Europe from Gamba Osaka in 2017 and has scored 10 times in 34 games, while also earning a call-up to the Japan national side this year.
Juventus and Atletico Madrid are also reportedly monitoring the situation, but Doan might be wise to think about where he would play most. In a midfield bursting with world-class talent? Or one in the Dutch league?
Tap-ins
– The Express reports that Manchester United are favourites to sign Victor Moses from Chelsea when the transfer market reopens this winter, though Crystal Palace are also interested in acquiring the Nigerian wing-back.
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